Today, seven GoodGymmers met up to help Camden Highline install a pocket park in Camden Gardens in the first of three volunteering sessions.

This first session was filled with some of the heavier-duty tasks to be completed today; mostly filling some planters with soil and gravel. As we were all conscious of storm Dennis' imminent arrival, we had a brief outline of the day's work flow and got started.

There's not really too much you can say about filling planters. The largest part of the task was focused on distributing tonnes of soil into respective planters.

I suppose I could mention that we used buckets, wheel barrows and bags to transport the soil from a central location to the planters that were scattered around the park (the vessel being chosen by whatever whimsy took us. It was almost a real-life reenactment of a "choose your own adventure story" 😄)

Regardless, after 2.5 hours we had shifted lots of soil (18 tonnes of the stuff needed to be moved today), and were ready for the next batch of volunteers to come along and pitch in. Well, some of us were at any rate... 😅😉

25 Goodgymers ran 7km to help Antrim Allotments with loads of tasks!

Welcome along to newbies - Jess, Lina, Dario and Tom - lovely to have you join us.

In the news this week:

1. Sign up for the GoodGym Olympics by TODAY - pick your events and represent #TeamCamden
2. Next Saturday is the Night of the PB's at Parliament Hill Track, go along to cheer and if you want volunteer to go here.
3. A huge well done to Liz who hit 200 Good Deeds last night! That's an amazing amount of good in just over a year. This includes over a 100 missions which is very impressive!

After the intro we warmed up and then headed up the hill for 3.5k to help the wonderful Antrim Allotments with an array of tasks, these guys are always ready for our arrival which is great! We've been able to make a huge impact over the last four summers at the allotments, this is since the committee took control of the plots form the council. This means the general maintenance of the area and clearing of old plots is their responsibility (and where we come in).

Our tasks this week were:

• Clearing and bagging dead wood and weeding - enabling an extension of a plot
• Cutting back ivy from the gate area
• Thomas and Jess dug a hole for a raised bed
• Ten people weeded and clearing an overgrown plot
• Abi dug out and moved plants
• A team of five cleared bindweed/morning glory from an fence, and brambles from the base of a tree

Over 30 minutes we got these tasks and more done, enabling the allotments to continue growing and building. While everyone worked away mini tarts and oreos were handed out as part of celebrations for Liz's 200th Good Deed - yay! To finish off at Antrim we took a group picture and said goodbye to the committee & plot owners.

Enjoying the run down hill home we were back in no time, stretched out and headed to the pub for Liz's celebrations!

Next week we are helping St Mungo's and SPCA - sign up here.

PB out